Teresa Mahoney was crowned the 2008 1st Runner Up at the Miss Czech-Slovak US pageant. Teresa represented Oregon and she is the daughter of Daniela Mahoney, both continue to preserve our wonderful culture. Here is her mother’s story….

Czech Egg Artist & Cultural Educator Celebrates 30 Years

It’s been a busy season for Czech folk-art preservation this year! 2013 marks Daniela Mahoney’s (my mom’s) 30th anniversary as an egg artist and cultural educator. And I couldn’t be more proud of the work she does! (See video I produced for her here).

This year, she traveled across the country to teach cultural weekends (a concept she recently developed) where organizations can invite her to give lectures, art demonstrations and teach hands-on cultural crafts. Participants can experience everything from various methods of Czech egg decorating to Slovakian wheat weaving. It’s all very hands on, and most all, very fun!

In addition, the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library recently included her in their oral histories collection, a recorded interview that tells the story of how she transitioned from the Communist Czech Republic to Germany, and finally to the US. (see here).

By day, she’s a social worker living in Oregon, but her true passion still remains: to preserve and promote the Czech and Slovak heritage. Here’s to many more years of spreading tradition!

To try some heritage exploration at home, Daniela has a line of activity books that encourage educational cultural entertainment. For updates on Daniela’s work and travels, please follow her Facebook artist page or “Czech” out her new website at danielam.com!

]]>http://www.danielam.com/around-the-web/feed/0Genealogyhttp://www.danielam.com/genealogy/
http://www.danielam.com/genealogy/#commentsMon, 15 Jul 2013 22:23:32 +0000http://www.danielam.com/?p=3476Depending on your level of interest in researching your ancestors, you may decide if you want to do just a basic research on the Internet or actually hire a professional

]]>Depending on your level of interest in researching your ancestors, you may decide if you want to do just a basic research on the Internet or actually hire a professional. Dr. Miroslav Koudelka is one of the accomplished genealogists that specializes in Czech and Slovak Genealogy research. He has published genealogy related articles, books and is a well established guest speaker in genealogy communities in the United Stated.

Log on to www.czechfamily.com for information and links to genealogy related organizations and services.

You can see an interview with Dr. Mirek Koudelka at ‘Onward To Our Past’ Genealogy and Family History Services on Facebook.

]]>http://www.danielam.com/genealogy/feed/0Word from Daniela M. – Staying in touch……http://www.danielam.com/word-from-daniela-m-staying-in-touch/
http://www.danielam.com/word-from-daniela-m-staying-in-touch/#commentsMon, 15 Jul 2013 22:09:44 +0000http://www.danielam.com/?p=3467Since I was born in the Czech republic, Czech and Slovak cultural heritage preservation continues to be a focal point of our company’s mission.

We have decided to embrace the marvels of modern technology and redeveloped our website with our web team! In order to keep in touch with you, our supporters, we have decided to start a quarterly newsletter. We hope that using the contemporary Internet technology will help us to preserve and promote the treasures of the past.

Since I was born in the Czech republic, Czech and Slovak cultural heritage preservation continues to be a focal point of our company’s mission. We are excited to continue developing new educational programs about traditional cultural crafts for children and adults, publish books and travel to Czech and Slovak communities nationwide to share our eggspertize..

As part of our cultural heritage preservation effort, we were delighted to join the Oregon Folklife Network Apprentice/Mentor Program in 2012. I became a mentor and Teresa O’Donnell became my apprentice. The program was focused on Egg decorating in Czech republic & Slovakia and was designed to teach Teresa how to decorate eggs and how to share her knowledge with children and adults in our community. I hope to create more apprentice opportunities in the future by offering the “Teach the Teacher” workshops in Czech & Slovak communities nationwide.

Review of events:

March: sponsored producer John Honner of Czech-American TV USA to come to Oregon to film three episodes focused Czech traditions. Two of the episodes were already broadcasted: Czech Easter Traditions on April 1 and traditional Czech liver sausage (Jitrnice) on April 8. To watch these episodes go to catvusa.com (video archive – older broadcasts);

]]>http://www.danielam.com/word-from-daniela-m-staying-in-touch/feed/0Cultural weekends and fundraising for nonprofit organizations with Daniela M.http://www.danielam.com/cultural-weekend-and-fundraising-for-non-profit-organizations-with-daniela-m/
http://www.danielam.com/cultural-weekend-and-fundraising-for-non-profit-organizations-with-daniela-m/#commentsWed, 26 Jun 2013 01:23:27 +0000http://www.danielam.com/?p=3025Cultural weekends are comprised of programs offered on our website and consist of lectures, individual workshops and egg art demonstration by Daniela M. Egg ornaments and books can be also sold for fundraising purposes.

]]>Cultural weekends are comprised of programs offered on our website and consist of lectures, individual workshops and egg art demonstration by Daniela M. Egg ornaments and books can be also sold for fundraising purposes.

The hosting organization chooses from the menu of classes, workshops and lectures and develops a schedule of events according to their needs, including time, budget and audience.

This is a custom event and none of the Cultural weekends may be the same.
Here is an example of a cultural weekend for a Museum:

]]>http://www.danielam.com/cultural-weekend-and-fundraising-for-non-profit-organizations-with-daniela-m/feed/0Easter in Czech Republic and Slovakia (1 Hour)http://www.danielam.com/easter-in-czech-republic-and-slovakia-1-hour/
http://www.danielam.com/easter-in-czech-republic-and-slovakia-1-hour/#commentsTue, 11 Jun 2013 20:12:16 +0000http://www.danielam.com/?p=649Instructor speaks about traditional Easter. Demonstration and discussion available at the end of the lecture.

]]>http://www.danielam.com/easter-in-czech-republic-and-slovakia-1-hour/feed/0Czech Dough Ornaments (45-60min)http://www.danielam.com/czech-dough-ornaments/
http://www.danielam.com/czech-dough-ornaments/#commentsFri, 07 Jun 2013 11:00:09 +0000http://www.danielam.com/?p=506The art of ornamental dough originated in the town of Vizovice in northern Moravia. Traditional shapes and have been baked for over 140 years.

]]>The art of ornamental dough originated in the town of Vizovice in northern Moravia. Traditional shapes and have been baked for over 140 years. The dough is made from flour and water. All designs are created by molding the dough by hand and using knives, scissor, combs and spices to achieve special effects. After baking finished products can be varnished. These ornaments are not intended for eating.

]]>http://www.danielam.com/czech-dough-ornaments/feed/0Teach the Teacher”: Preserving cultural crafts in our communities (3 hours)http://www.danielam.com/preserving-culture-crafts-in-our-communities/
http://www.danielam.com/preserving-culture-crafts-in-our-communities/#commentsThu, 06 Jun 2013 23:01:37 +0000http://www.danielam.com/?p=515This workshop is designed to teach participants to develop workshops and teach others how to make cultural crafts in their communities

]]>This workshop is designed to teach participants to develop workshops and teach others how to make cultural crafts in their communities. Hands on craft making include egg decorating, wheat weaving, ornamental dough baking and paper cutting.

Participants learn how to develop workshops in order to teach cultural crafts in their communities.

]]>http://www.danielam.com/preserving-culture-crafts-in-our-communities/feed/0Egg Decorating in Czech Republic Slovakia (1 Hour)http://www.danielam.com/egg-decorating-in-czech-republic-slovakia/
http://www.danielam.com/egg-decorating-in-czech-republic-slovakia/#commentsThu, 06 Jun 2013 11:15:31 +0000http://www.danielam.com/?p=513This lecture provides a comprehensive overview of history, significance of egg decorating in cultural context, different styles of egg decorating and present day status of the craft in Czech Republic, Slovakia and USA. Demonstration and discussion available at the end of the lecture.

]]>This lecture provides a comprehensive overview of history, significance of egg decorating in cultural context, different styles of egg decorating and present day status of the craft in Czech Republic, Slovakia and USA. Demonstration and discussion available at the end of the lecture.

]]>http://www.danielam.com/egg-decorating-in-czech-republic-slovakia/feed/0Slovak Wheat Weaving (45-60min)http://www.danielam.com/wheat-weaving-in-slovakia/
http://www.danielam.com/wheat-weaving-in-slovakia/#commentsWed, 05 Jun 2013 22:38:56 +0000http://www.danielam.com/?p=503Wheat weaving has been traced back to ancient times and has always been associated with joyful festivals that occurred and harvest time.

]]>Wheat weaving has been traced back to ancient times and has always been associated with joyful festivals that occurred and harvest time. In many countries it was believed that a spirit resided in the grain so that at harvest the last handful of choice grain was gathered and was woven into a thanksgiving symbol to be carefully preserved and hung in the home until the following spring. Students complete one or two small heart shaped projects.

Since straw was available in every household and it was one of the most popular materials to create various seasonal decorations including Christmas ornaments. Straw has a special religious meaning, because Jesus was born in a stable on a bed of straw. Straw ornaments stand out against the green branches of the tree at Christmas. One of the favorite designs is a star of Bethlehem. Folk artists work with three different kinds of straw: round straw, flat ironed straw or straw cut in half and ironed.